Chippewas fill head football coach vacancy
CMU has filled its vacancy for a head football coach after a national search that lasted more than three weeks.
A press conference has been scheduled for 11 a.m. today in the Indoor Athletics Complex to formally introduce 43-year-old Mike DeBord, offensive coordinator at the University of Michigan, as the 23rd head coach in CMU's 100-year football history.
"I am extremely excited that Mike DeBord will be our new football coach," CMU Athletics Director Herb Deromedi said in a press release Thursday.
"It is impressive that Central is able to land a coordinator from a high-profile program that has been consistently ranked in the top 10 in the country," he said.
"He has great vision and is very knowledgeable and personable," Deromedi said. "We spent a lot of time and a lot of work on this and I am very comfortable about where we are."
While the contract has not been finalized, the two parties agreed in principle on a four-year deal which will pay DeBord $120,000 next season. DeBord's salary in subsequent years will likely increase based on current terms of the Faculty Association agreement.
Not included in the base salary are other areas of income, such as sports camps and a television show.
"The amount in the other areas will be similar to what Coach (Dick) Flynn had," Deromedi said.
Last season DeBord made a total of $116,328 at Michigan - $107,778 in salary and $8,550 in other income. CMU paid Head Coach Dick Flynn $92,391 in salary and $13,925 in other income for a total of $106,366 in his sixth and final season.
DeBord becomes only the second CMU coach to work under a multi-year contract. Men's Head Basketball Coach Jay Smith is currently under a three-year deal.
DeBord has been the offensive coordinator at U-M for the past three years, and has been on the Wolverine staff for eight seasons as offensive tackles and tight ends coach.
"He has extensive experience at the collegiate level and in a Division-I school," Deromedi said. "Being in a high-profile position at a nationally-ranked school, he was on my list from the beginning."
DeBord was appointed to the Michigan staff in June 1992 as the offensive tackles and tight ends coach. He was elevated to assistant head coach for two years (1995-96) before current Wolverine Head Coach Lloyd Carr promoted DeBord to his current position in February 1997.
Carr spoke highly of DeBord Thursday.
"Mike DeBord is one of the best coaches we had at the University of Michigan and he's a great choice for CMU," Carr said. "He's well prepared and is everything you'd want in a coach and person. He will be an outstanding success," Carr said.
"This speaks volumes of where we are as a program and as a university," Deromedi said.
In DeBord's first campaign as offensive coordinator in 1997, Michigan won the national championship. The 1998 Wolverine squad turned in school-record performances in passing yards (2,931), passing attempts (403) and completions (238).
"Whenever we had the opportunity to talk, I was impressed," Deromedi said. "He was very well organized and he is a very strong individual."
When the search first began, Deromedi talked of hiring someone who had strong Midwestern ties, and said DeBord fits that bill.
"Being at U-M for seven years establishes him as an in-state recruiter," Deromedi said. "Throughout the Midwest he is recognized as being a top recruiter."
DeBord will continue to coach at Michigan through the Orange Bowl as well as simultaneously beginning his duties at Central.
Deromedi also expressed his appreciation for the CMU administration in helping the program find a new coach in a timely fashion.
